The Difference between Piriformis Syndrome and Sciatica

If you have lower back pain with tingling, burning or numbness that can reach all the way down to your feet, most people will tell you that you have sciatica. But, do you really? Sciatica is more commonly diagnosed than piriformis syndrome, but the symptoms of the two are almost identical.

Piriformis Syndrome vs. Sciatica

Both conditions cause the same result: the sciatic nerves become compressed. They even cause many of the same symptoms, but there is one major difference. Piriformis syndrome occurs when there’s a problem with the piriformis muscle (a muscle in the upper part of your buttocks). In order for the problem to be diagnosed as sciatica, the nerves must be compressed as a result of disc herniation or spinal degeneration in the lower lumbar area.

Still sound confusing? Let’s look at how the two are diagnosed.

Diagnosis

If your doctor thinks you may have either condition (sciatica or piriformis), he or she will put you through a series of tests.It’ll start with a standard physical exam and progress to some imaging tests. You might expect to undergo a spinal x-ray, MRI or a CT scan. These tests will help the doctor figure out whether you have sciatica. If you don’t have visible disc herniation or spinal degeneration, you may have piriformis syndrome. There aren’t any definitive tests for piriformis, but if you have a great deal of pain or numbness when you straighten your leg (so it’s parallel to the floor) or when you press on the piriformis muscle, you probably have piriformis problems.

It’s important to mention here that it is possible to have both sciatica and piriformis syndrome. So, even if you’re diagnosed with sciatica, you could also be suffering from piriformis syndrome.

Treatment

You may be wondering why all this matters. If your sciatic nerves are compressed, they’re compressed, right? Who cares what you call it? Well, the main reason for the differentiation lies in the treatment.

Treatment for sciatica will depend on the severity of the case. In some cases, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications are enough to keep the pain and numbness at bay. More severe cases require steroid injections or surgery.

Treatment for piriformis syndrome is more straightforward. Piriformis syndrome can usually be treated with physical therapy alone (although, sometimes anti-inflammatory medications are also needed). Because this syndrome usually comes as a result of misuse or overuse of this muscle, proper and consistent stretching helps in almost every case. But, not everyone has the time or resources to see a physical therapist on a regular basis.

That’s why Miracle Stretch created the Piri-Stretcher Plus. This device offers a way to focus their stretch directly on the problem area: the piriformis muscle.

If you think you’re suffering from sciatica, you may want to ask your doctor if piriformis syndrome could be the root of your problem. You may have both, or you may just have an issue with your piriformis muscle that can get better with physical therapy. It’s worth investigating, right?

Dawn Sherwood is a proud contributing author and writes articles on several subjects including piriformis syndrome.